My Dad the carpenter

I spent all of last night and most of today going through my immense digital photo collection searching for sawdust. Yep, that's right, sawdust, as I knew I had taken pics. Along the way, I wrote 5 pages of notes as memory triggers for my books plus culled some raw videos I didn't need anymore (from my YouTube vlog).

I finally found the sawdust compliation, a photo essay of Dad's tools when they were in use in October 2017, to build me a set of drawers. Dad thought I was odd I was taking photos (bipolar mania episode) but he didn't mind. Just including a small selection of those photos in this blog post, with what I think they are called.

Dad's clamps, on his workbench

I sometimes used Dad's tools in creative projects (was especially therapeutic to use the sledgehammer). Dad didn't understand my creative processing but he let me do it anyway, as long as I put things back in 'perfect' order how he had it.

Mum is looking at selling Dad's tools now. I will be sad to see them go, as my childhood memories are linked to Dad in his workshop with his tools. My Dad was a carpenter since age 14 when he went to trade school in Holland. With his trade, and barely speaking a word of English, he immigrated to New Zealand.

My Dad had no higher education and couldn't do trigonometry but he he could do arthimetic in his head. He built many beautiful things such as furniture and even the seat swing enjoyed by his children and grandchildren. He also built the house that Mum and I currently live in plus the house I grew up in.

​He continued with his carpentry beyond retirement, including still using the big power tools in his 80s. Although, he cut his thumb badly on the big saw this year, after decades of using it with having never injured himself with it. He died less than 3 weeks ago, age 81.
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Dad's workshop in 2017

These photos are special to me as I was hanging out with Dad while he built, like I did when I was a child (he let his children and grandchildren use certain tools as young children). Just a small selection but I have a folder with more pics for family. Some are pics of tools as he was using them. Others when I took anything of interest in the workshop (many old things from his workshop, I repurposed them for sculptures that went into art exhibitions).
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Antique dutch doorknob key, one of my most precious possessions now. Dad let me have it that day in 2017. Only ever painted my nails like this in mania episodes.

Antique buzzer in use, generating fresh sawdust.

Dad using the buzzer, which he's had at least since my childhood. Building the set of drawers for my clothing.

Bench saw spinning inspired my art as therapy exhibition, Spinning Orbit

Saw paused. Dad came to me when he cut his thumb badly this year.

Hand planer. Think this might be an antique. I remember it since childhood.

Drill. I used this often for my art as therapy projects.

This hacksaw has 'Haarlem' on it, so I'm guessing it's one of his tools from Holland.

I remember using this handdrill (which I called an 'eggbeater drill') in childhood. Even used it as an adult when processing (re-enactment).

Handsaw, showing teeth and dust from Dad's working on a project

Vice attached to Dad's workshop bench, with a dusting of fresh, fine sawdust

Sawhorse (has had a lot of use)

Not quite sure what this is called. A square level? Has a bubble in it like Dad's straight spirit levels but I'm not sure if it's a type of spirit level too (seems to have a set square built in too).

This tea tin is probably before my time, as not the kind used when I was a child. For storage.

Dad repurposed old tins and so did I, as I made a sculpture from this tin. I remember these tins in Dad's old workshop. He stored nuts and bolts in them.

Expect this tin is ancient. Dad used to repair our bicycles.

Dad's handwriting for the plan of his own design plus pricing. He only asked for cost of the raw materials as he loved to build.

The set of drawers in progress. He wrote in pencil the drawer numbers as there might be slight variation in size.

Finished set of drawers in my room (Dad built solid furniture that will last decades, not like pricey yet flimsy stuff these days).

Compass

I took pics of this compass in 2017, after Dad built the set of drawers. It was a gift from my Dad when I was 10 years old. It's now over 40 years old and still looks in very good condition, as it's been stored in a wooden box Dad built for it. I am intending to gift it to my son for his upcoming 21st birthday. It represents to me Dad's moral compass. He was a man of integrity and a man of his word. 

I've had this compass for over 40 years